Sounders fall in deeper hole after shutout in Colorado

It’s no coincidence the Sounders have been shut out in all five losses, including Saturday night’s 1-0 defeat to Colorado.

The same group continues to do the same things, though the Sounders do not even have numerous lost opportunities to lament after this one. The Sounders’ chances were minimal in a stoic match played predominantly in midfield, counter to the enjoyable open soccer viewed in Qwest Field on Wednesday. Seattle put just one shot on goal.

“We didn’t capitalize on our chances,” Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said. “Breakaway by (Freddie) Ljungberg at the end of the half, (Fredy) Montero had a couple of good looks.”

The lone goal came when Colorado’s Conor Casey bull rushed past Sounders defender Jeff Parke, gathered and chipped the ball over Kasey Keller in the 63rd minute. Parke was simply overpowered by the bulky Casey who did well to finish.

Frustration is the name of the game for the Sounders these days. (David Zalubowski/AP)

The Sounders started Jeff Parke on the back line and Patrick Ianni and Brad Evans in the midfield. The remixing of what has been a bitter cocktail all season had little effect.

Ianni had the Sounders’ best chance of the day when he powered a volley from the top of the box toward Colorado keeper Matt Pickens early in the first half.

Beyond that, there was little threat from the Sounders in the run of play or particularly on set pieces. Precise service and connection were non-existent.

“It will come,” Sounders midfielder/forward Pat Noonan said. “We have to be patient but at the same time we have to have that killer instinct.

“Whatever it is the last pass, shot, cross, whatever it is we just have to be precise and right now we are just a little bit off and it is costing us goals so we will fix it. We can’t keep our heads down or we will get smashed.”

Seattle now sits tied for seventh place in the eight-team Western Conference. The five losses are just two short of the seven the Sounders had in 2009.

With two home matches remaining prior to the MLS World Cup break, the Sounders are teetering. Even with the pending arrival of Blaise Nkufo, the Sounders could find themselves in a hole they simply cannot surface from.

“It is never too early to think about our points so far,” Schmid said. “Points are worth the same now as it is in the end. It doesn’t matter; if you are giving up points then you are giving up points.

“It has been frustrating because I don’t think we have walked off the field being an outplayed team. We just got to keep working and keep our belief in ourselves.”